Individual Distance Challenge Rules

1. Please arrive at the pool 30 minutes before your session is due to start so that a lane can be allocated to you. Your Swimathon session start time will be highlighted on your confirmation email and on your Swimathon dashboard.

2. You will have 3 hours to complete your swim no matter which distance you have signed up for. If you have any queries around completing your swim in under 3 hours, please liaise with the pool directly.

3. You will be given a Swimathon swim cap upon arrival to the pool. Please wear this in the pool for participant identification on the day. Use of personal swim caps is only allowed upon consent from the pool in which you are undertaking your challenge.

4. In the interest of safety, diving is not permitted.

5. You may alternate strokes if you wish. Backstroke is not recommended and must be approved by the Swimathon Director at the centre.

6. It is important to observe lane etiquette and avoid congestion in the pool. If the swimmer behind you touches your feet, it is a signal for you to allow them to pass at the end of the next length.

7. Only overtake when it is safe to do so. Swimathon recommends overtaking at the end of each length.

8. You are only able to enter and exit the pool once during your challenge. One toilet break is allowed, but the stopwatch will not be paused if this happens.

9. The use of any equipment, such as buoyancy aids, fins or paddles that will assist you with your swim, are not permitted.

Team Distance Challenge Rules

1. All team members must be registered prior to Tuesday 23 April 2024. All team members will need to be invited by the person who registers the team entry, to register their own details and join the team. This is done via an invitation link accessible from your team dashboard, which will be sent in the confirmation email once the team entry is secured.

2. Teams must consist of 2-5 swimmers.

3. Please arrive at the pool 30 minutes before your session is due to start so that a lane can be allocated to you. Your Swimathon session start time will be highlighted on your confirmation email and on your Swimathon dashboard.

4. You will have 3 hours to complete your swim no matter which distance you have signed up for. If you have any queries around completing your swim in under 3 hours, please liaise with the pool directly.

5. Your team members must have the same colour swim cap; these will be provided to you by the Swimathon Director on the day.

6. The challenge is performed in relay format in one lane. Only one team member should swim at a time.

7. Team members are only able to enter the pool once and exit the pool once during their swim. One toilet break is allowed, but the stopwatch will not be paused if this happens.

8. Each team member can swim differing distances to add up to the challenge total (either Team 1.5k or Team 5k), as long as each team member enters the pool only once. Once one team member has finished their distance, another team member is allowed to enter the pool to continue the challenge (relay format).

MySwimathon Rules

1. You can swim one of the set challenges (Individual 400m, Individual 1.5k, Individual 2.5k, Individual 5k, The Triple 5k, The 30.9, Team 1.5k or Team 5k) or you can set a distance of your own.

2. You can complete MySwimathon in any pool of your choice, not during part of an organised Swimathon session. You will need to pay the venue their general admission fee to take on your Swimathon challenge.

3. You must complete your swim in one session, between Friday 19 April and Sunday5 May 2024 (unless you are taking on The Triple 5k or The 30.9).

4. Please wear your Swimathon swim cap, which will be sent to you by post prior to April (please note that if you are signed up for MySwimathon Lite, you must fundraise £50 on your JustGiving page to qualify for a swim cap and medal).

5. Submit your result after completing your challenge, so that we can send you your well-earned medal in the post. Instructions on how to submit your time will be shared in due course.